Tonsorial device



Feb. 27, 1951 N. HOLSCLAW TONSORIAL DEVICE Filed April 4, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 27, 1951 TONSORIAL DEVICE Neil .Holsclaw, Chicago, 111., assignor of one-half to Fred E. Sudlow, Rock Island, Ill.

Application April 4, 1946, Serial No. 659,581

7 Claims. (01. 30213) This invention relates to improvements in hair cutting devices and more particularly to an implement having all the features of a hair clipper, a comb and a pair of shears embodied in a unitary device, all in cooperative re1ationship to each other. This invention is an improvement of the invention disclosed in my co-pending applications for patents Serial No. 576,795 filed February 8, 1945, now Patent No. 2,409,281 granted Oct. 15, 1946 for Tonsorial Device; Serial No. 658,551 filed March 30, v1946 now Patent No. 2,486,028, granted Oct. 25, 1949 for Tonsorial Device; Serial No. 662,714, filed April 17, 1946 now Patent No. 2,422,128, granted May 25, 1948 for Tonsorial Device; Serial No. 662,715 filed April 17, 1946 for Tonsorial Device, now abandoned.

When cutting a head of hair, normally a pair of scissors, a hair clipper, and a comb are used to do the job. The comb must be used when either the clipper or the scissors is used; therefore, to do the job both hands of the hair cutter must be used at all times. The comb is normally used to lift the hair to a desired length, then the hair is cut over the comb, either with a pair of shears or a clipper.

It is the main object of this invention to com bine all of these tools in one implement and to produce a device which is far superior to known devices; to provide such a device which is so simple that anyone can cut his own headof hair without having developed the skill or having the knowledge of hair cutting; to provide such a device in which both sides of the clipper may be used, thereby producing a tool which may be used with either the left or right hand of the operator.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved tool which may be used either as a clipper or comb, or a shears, all three being combined in a unitary structure; to provide a device of this character having a pair of coacting elongated toothed cutter members, each member being arranged to be reciprocated in opposite directions simultaneously by manipulation of a single handle member; to provide in a device of this character a pair of handle members, one being stationary, the other pivoted thereto, and a pair of link arms, each pivotally secured at one end to the movable handle and at the other end to one of the cutter members respectively, and spaced apart by a stationary guide bar whereby to cause each cutter member to reciprocate in opposite directions upon manipulation of the pivoted handle; to provide a device of this character having a spring plate secured to the cutter member so as to exert equal tension thereon; to provide a device of this character having a wire spring harness to hold and guide the link arm members; to provide a device of this character having link arms pivotally anchored at diametrically opposite edges of the forward end of the movable handle respectively whereby upon manipulation of the movable handle with respect to the stationary handle, one link arm is pushed forward while the other is pulled rearwardly to cause the link arms to reciprocate in opposite directions; to provide cutter members in a device of this character which are removable from the driving mechanism and readily replaceable thereon; to provide a device of this character having link arms secured to the movable handle of the device and adapted to move in the opposite direction *Which the handle is moved; and to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the guide bar and showing the link arms pivotally secured thereto.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the guide bar.

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevational views of the link arms.

Fig. 7 is a top elevational view of my inven tion looking down at the cutter teeth.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the cutter members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the handle members I and 2 are provided with hubs 3 and 4 respectively and which are secured together in operative relationship by bolt 5 extending through appropriate apertures therein, whereby the handle member I is movably and pivotally secured to the stationary handle member 2.

The fiat stationary guide car 6, illustrated in Fig. 3, is clef-t endwise to form a slot or slideway 2. The rear end of the bar 6 is provided with an cfiset disc 8 having a circular aperture 9 and an arcuately-shaped aperture 19 therein. Two countersunk apertures SJ and 9.2 also contained in the offset disc 8 are horizontally disposed one on each side of the aperture 9 and are adapted to receive suitable bolts whereby to anchor the disc to the hub 4 of the handle member 2.

The offset disc 8 of the guide bar 6 is positioned between the hubs 3 and 4 of the handles I' and 2 and is held therebetween by the bolt which is threaded through the aperture 9. Flat-headed bolts 9.3 and 9.4 seat in the counter-sunk apertures 9.| and 9.2 respectively and are adapted to be threaded into suitable apertures contained in the hub 4 to hold the guide bar 6 in a horizontal position.

A pair of link arms I I and I2 are arranged one on each side of the guide bar 6 (see Figs. 2 and 7) The arm II is provided with an upstanding offset triangularly shaped hub I H having a pinreceiving aperture I3 therein at th apex thereof and an enlarged axial bore I5 therein below said aperture I3. The link arm I2 i provided with a downwardly projecting offset triangularly shaped hub I2.I considerably smaller than the hub and it is also provided with a pin-receiving aperture I4. The link arms II and I2 are positioned on each side of the guide bar 6 respectively and the hubs ||.I and I2.I of each link arm is pivotally secured to the upper and lower portion of the hub 3 of the movable handle I respectively, in any suitable manner such as by pins I6 and I1 which are threaded through the link arm apertures I3 and I4 respectively and which seat themselves in suitable alined apertures (H and L2 respectively) contained in the hub 3. As the link arm I2 is positioned against the side of the guide bar 6 farthest away from the hub 3, it is necessary, in order to have the link movable, to extend the pin II through the arched aperture I9 contained in the lower portion of the guide bar 6 and in order to have link arm I2 movable, it is necessary to extend bolt 5 through the enlarged axial bore I5 but it is apparent that bolt 5 does not in any way act on the link arm I I.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be apparent that when the handle member I is moved downwardly toward stationary handle 2 the movement of link arm I I will be to the right, while the movement of link arm I2 will be to the left; therefore, the link arms will move in opposite directions upon the closing or opening of handle member I.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and especially Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings that as the two horizontally alined pins 9.3 and 9.4 which extend throughout the alined apertures 9.I and 9.2 of the guide bar disc 8 and are anchored to the hub 4 of the handle 2, the handle member 2 cannot move about the pivot bolt 5 and hence will remain stationary with respect to the handle member I.

A wire-spring retaining clip 6.I' has one end securely anchored to guide bar 6', in any suitable manner, adjacent the hubs 3 and 4 while the other end, bent back upon itself to form a substantially U-shaped clip, straddles link arms II and I2 to keep them in looking coactive engagement with the hereinafter mentioned clipper members.

Bowed leaf springs I8 are positioned between the handle members I and 2 and are secured at one end to one of each handle members respectively by bolts and U-shaped clips, generally indicated by the numeral |8.|, whereby the handle member I will automatically open or return to the position shown in full line in Fig. 1, after it has been depressed to the position indicated by the dotted lines.

The cutters or toothed members I9 and 20 are identical in design and construction, having long slightly tapered teeth 2|, the tapers also running laterally (see Figs. 1-7 and 8) so that when placed in coacting face to face relation to each other, the composite structure thereof resembles a wide-tooth comb. Th members I9 and 20 are each respectively provided with inwardly facing channels 22 and 23 whereby to form a slideway for the guide bar 6, and position the members I9 and 29 cutter-face to cutter-face with respect to each other.

Finger-engaging seats I9.| are positioned in the rear ends of each of the toothed members I9 and 20 to receive fingers 24 and 25, which extend in an upward vertical plane from the free ends of the link arms II and I2 respectively. The fingers 24 and 25 are securely held in the notches 23 by the spring clip I I .I whereby the movement imparted to the arms II and I2 is transmitted to the cutter members I9 and 20.

Members I 9 and 20 are each provided with longitudinally extending grooves 26 at a point adjacent the base of the teeth 2| and extend the length of the cutters. The groove 26 in the cutter member I9 is adapted to receive an inverted L-shaped spring plate 21. As will be apparent from Fig. 8, the short arm 29 of the inverted L-shaped spring plate 21 seats in the groove 26 of the toothed member I9 while only the lower edge (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 8) of the long arm of the spring plate bears against the body of the cutter member. A bolt 28 extends through the spring plate 21 and the toothed member I9 extends through the slot I of the guide bar 6 and is threaded into a suitable threaded aperture contained in toothed member 20.

Tension on the toothed members I9 and 20 can be increased or decreased by manipulating the bolt 28. It will be noted that practically only the edges of the short and long arm of the spring plate bear against the cutter member, while the major portion of the plate remains free of contact from the cutter.

From the foregoing description and the drawings, it will now be apparent that the arched aperture I0 will permit the pin I'I, extending through aperture I4 and securing the link arm I2 to the hub 3, to move freely in a forwardly or rearwardly direction when the movable handle I is manipulated. Similarly, the enlarged axial bore I5 contained in the link arm II allows the link arm to move freely in a forwardl or rearwardly direction on the shank of bolt 5 when the movable handle I is manipulated. As the ends II.I and I2.I of the link arms II and I2 respectively are secured to the top and bottom portion respectively of the hub 3 and are diametrically opposite each other, downward movement of the handle I will cause the arm I2 to move forwardly and will cause the arm II to move rear- Wardly. When the handle I is forced into an open position by springs I8, the action of the link arms II and I2 will be exactly the opposite. As the vertically extending fingers 24 and 25 of the link arms II and I2 respectively are seated within the notches 23 of the cutter members, it will be apparent that any movement of the link arms will b transmitted directly to the cutters and as heretofore explained the movement of the link arms being reciprocal, the movements of the cutter members will also necessarily be reciprocal.

When assembled the teeth 2| of both members I9 and 20 are in mutual alinement with each other; hence take on the appearance of a comb and thus may be used as such for combing the hair. When making a cut, the hair is first combed downwardly in the direction of the shoulders to straighten the same, then the device is moved in the opposite direction to lift the hair away from the scalp and outwardly to the position desired, so that the user may cut off the amount of hair he wants b closing the handle I. While the handle is still closed the device is withdrawn from the head and the handle allowed to be returned to open position by releasing the pressure of the fingers and allowing the spring to force the handle outwardly. Now the hair is again combed with the device to straighten the hair and the cutting step again repeated.

It is, therefore, apparent that this device does the work of the usual scissors, clippers and comb and it performs the function of all three of these devices and the device is capable of manipulation with the use of only one hand.

The long teeth, like a comb, pick up the hair and hold it firmly and perfectly therebetween until the handle is closed to make a out. As the teeth are long and sturdy, they allow the hair that has been previously cut by the device to fall through the openings between the teeth so that only the hair which is desired to be cut remains between the teeth for clipping.

To disassemble the device the wire clip 6.! is forced away from the link arms which will allow the fingered ends of the arms to drop freely away from the cutter members, allowing the cutter members to be removed from the guide bar.

It will be understood that numerous details of the invention herein shown and described may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device 0 the class described comprising a pair of coacting cutter members positioned in face to face relationship with each other, each having elongated toothed member spaced closely together incorporated therein; a pair of handle members, on stationary and the other movable with respect to said stationary handle members, a common means for securing said handle members together, a stationary guide bar extending forwardly from and secured between said handle members; a pair of link arms, one on each side ofsaid guide bar, each of said link arms being pivotally connected at one of their ends to said movable handle one above and one below said means for securing said handles together, said cutter members being positioned one on each side of the free end of said guide bar and removably secured one to each of said link arms; and spring plat means on one of said cutter members for securing said cutter members together in assembled operative relationship, whereby when said movable handle is manipulated, said link arms will reciprocate in opposite directions and each of said cutter members will therefore be reciprocated simultaneously in opposite directions.

2. A device of the character described comprising a stationary handle member and a movable handle member, means for securing said handle members together at one end thereof; an elongated stationary guide bar, one end thereof securely anchored to and extending forwardly of said stationary handle; a pair of link arms positioned one on each side of said guide bar, both of said link arms being pivotally secured at one of their ends to the movable handle member and at diametrically opposite edges thereof; a pair of coacting slidable elongated toothed members arranged one on each side of said guide bar in face to face relationship, and each removably secured to the free end of one of said link arms respectively, whereby upon manipulation of said movable handle member, each of said toothed members will reciprocate in opposite directions simultaneously; spring plate means for retaining said toothed members in assembled operative position on said guide bar, and spring means for urging said link arms to remain in coactive engagement with said toothed members.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein each of said toothed members is provided with horizontally alined channels for the reception of the free end of said guide bar.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said guide bar is slotted at its forward end whereby to form slideways for the reception of said toothed members, a bolt for securing said spring plate to one of said toothed members adapted to extend through said member and be secured to said other toothed member, which bolt is arranged to pass through said slot in said guide bar.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the guide bar is slotted at the forward end and is provided with an offset disc on the rear end thereof which is secured to the forward end of said stationary handle member, and between both of said handle members.

6. A device'of the class described comprising a movable handle member and a stationary handle member, offset hubs on each of said handle members integrally connected thereto on one end thereof, each of said hubs extending in a direction opposite the other, and pivotal means for securing said hubs together in face to face relationship with respect to each other, an elongated stationary guide bar having an offset disc at one end thereof securely anchored to the inner face of the hub of said stationary handle; a pair of link arms positioned one on each side of said guide bar, one of said link arms being pivotally secured at one end to the upper end of the hub of said movable handle and the other of said link arms being secured to the lower end of said hub of said movable handle in diametrically opposite relationship thereto; a pair of coacting slidable cutter members arranged one on each side of the forward end of said guide bar and each secured to the free end of said link arms respectively, whereby upon manipulation of said movable handle member each of said toothed members will be reciprocated in opposite directions simultaneously; and spring plate means for retaining said toothed members in face to face assembled operative relationship on said guide bar.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said cutter members are each provided with seats, and the free ends of said link arms are provided with fingers arranged to grippingly seat in said cutter member seats, and a tension spring holding means arranged to straddle said guide bar and link arms and effectively retain said lingers in said seats.

NEIL HOLSCLAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 375,546 Frey Dec. 27, 1887 2,409,281 Holsclaw Oct. 15, 1946 

